ATHLETE DIVES TO HIS DEATH

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1508, 24 January 1901, Page 13

ATHLETE DIVES TO HIS DEATH

TRAGIC TERMINATE.-,' OF A -RIDE FOR LIFE. .NEW xOxiK, Dec. 8. Joseph B. Starck a. trick bicycle rider, in bis “ride lor life,” dived to death in the armoury of the Twenty-second Regiment this afternoon. For a moment after the thrilling dive ;vas accomplished deadly silence reigned in the great drillroom, and then, as the enormous crowd began to realise something not on tiie programme had happened, there followed a wild scene of confusion, panic, and excitement, The Twenty-second Regiment Armoury was comfortably crowded for amatinee of “'The Old-Fashioned Country Circus.” On the bill was a “ride for life” by Joseph 35. Starck, described as a rido on a bicycle down an incline plane of 2Cofb from the roof to the centre cf the hall, and then a dive from a bicycle to a tank of water To below. The tank is about loft square, containing water 3ft Gin deep. Promptly at lralf-past four Starck climbed up the ladder to the platform, where his bicycle had already been placed. There he stood for a moment, then, waving his hand to the assembly below, leaped into the saddle, and grasping the handle-bars tightly, seemed to snoot down the incline. The sp ctaitors, closely watching, him, were almost breathlessly silent as they saw the young athlete leave his wheel with hands clasped over his head, and shoot through space in a direct line for - the tank. As Starck'*s body shot into the tank and the water splashed over its sides, there was a sigh of relief. fol_ lowed a second later by a scream, as a sound was heard like the blow of a heavy body against a hard substance. Starck did ,not rise, and a rush was made toward the tank. Roundsman McNought realised that something had happened, and was-"first to look into the water. At the bottom was Search's body. There was no sign of life, and MoN aught quickly climbed over the side and, lifting the body, passed it to those who had gathered aocut the tank. Starck had probably miscalculated the distance and struck directly on his head. The body was unmarked except by a slight bruise under the left eve. It was learned later that Starck had just returned from his sweetheart’s funeral. and his friends believe his dive to death was intentional.